Fabric forming machine and  method of making  ornamental designs



Feb. 16, 1932. BETTERTON 1,845,976

FABRIC FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS Filed Dec. 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORN EYS 0 O 0 0 O O 0 a Q O O O 0 D O 0 o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o 0 o o o v o o o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTERTON ACHINE AND METHOD DESIGNS 1930 G ORNAMENTAL ed Dec. 12,

' MING M Feb. 16, 1932.

INVENTOR 2 .flBeZZerZZm BY a A M 6 g ATTORN EYS Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITD STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS BRADLEY BETTERTON, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE Application filed December 12, 1980. Serial No. 501,975.

This invention relates to a method of and machine for forming decorative designs in fabric sheets and, among other objects, aims to provide improved means to shape the fabfilric and a simple method of setting the design in it before it is removed. Also, the invention contemplates a new mode of applying a backing to the shaped fabric.

Other aims and advantages of the inven- 10'tion will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

*ig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a forming table;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a forming board;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing some of the forming boards applied to a sheet of fabric;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View through the forming table;

25 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View showing a roller applying adhesive material to the back of a formed sheet;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing a backing secured to the formed sheet;

Fig. 9 is a face view of a piece of formed fabric; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a backed piece of formed fabric.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the machine there shown is especially designed to shape fabric linings such as casket silk to impart an ornate appearance. The idea is to crimp or form designs of the same or different shapes in a long plain sheet of fabric so that it may be secured to the inside walls of a casket or used for other purposes.

In this example, the forming mechanism is supported on a table frame 10 having legs 11 of suitable height. On the table frame a rectangular former frame 12 is rotatably mounted by means of stub shafts or bolts 13 so that it may be turned upside down. Herein, the former is made of polished wire screen 14 having meshes of the desired size and shape and is secured at its reinforced edges to the rectangular frame 12. The screen may also be supported between its ends by ordinary cross braces having spacer nails15 presenting heads spot welded or otherwise secured to some of the strands of the screen.

In this instance, the meshes of the screen are square. However, the shape may be varied to suit the particular ornamental designs which it is desired to produce. For example, they may be diamond or octagon so shaped or both. As shown in Fig. 6, the strands of wire are bent so as to have point instead of line contact with the fabric placed thereon, thus greatly reducing the friction when the material is pushed or forced into the meshes.

The pivoted former frame 12 is secured to the table frame so that it lies horizontally by any suitable means such as ears 16 and suitable pins 17 (Fig. 2). The fabric is placed upon the top of the screen, it being understood that the width of the fabric is greater than the width of the screen. To force the fabric into the meshes of the screen, there is shown a series of former boards 18 having round headed projections or nails 19 so spaced as to force the fabric centrally into the respective meshes. In this example, the boards are of substantially the same length as the width of the screen and several of them are employed so that one at a time may be used to force the fabric into a small section of the screen. Referring to Fig. 5, the board 18 at the left hand end of the screen is first placed on the fabric and worked back and 8 forth until its lower surface rests against the fabric which it forces against the screen. After this is done, the opposite ends of the board are clamped on the former frame by means of suitable pivoted C-shaped clamping members 20. While this formed portion of the fabric is held clamped on the screen, another board is worked into place and the operation is repeated until all of the boards are secured as shown in Fig. 1.

When the fabric is thus formed, it presents a series of pyramidal projections which form the finished face. However, if the fabric is removed from the machine without further treatment, it will not hold its shape well. In

accordance with this invention, the former frame 12 is released from the holder members 16 and turned bottom side upward and water is sprayed upon the formed face. This may be done by machine or by hand. The frame is then turned back to its original position and an electric grid heater 21 about the same size as the screen, shown as being slidably supported on legs 22, is adapted to be raised or elevated so as to dry the fabric.

In this instance, the elevating mechanism v for the heater 21 includes a pair of sheaves 23 on the opposite ends of theframe and a pair of winding drums 24 on a longitudinal shaft 25 extending through two of the legs of the frame and having a crank handle 26 at one end. Cables 27 are wound on the drums 24, trained over the sheaves 23 and secured to the opposite ends of brackets 28 secured to the heaterand slidable on the legs 22. The arrangement is such that the heater element is suspended below and out of the path of the pivoted frame 12 until the operator is ready to raise the heater as just described. Also, the mechanism is used to adjust the air gap between the heater and the fabric in order to obtain the desired amount of heat.

After the formed fabric is moistened and dried, as just explained, the design becomes set so that it will not easily be destroyed by stretching. This is especially true of silk. The formed fabric may now be removed from the frame and used without further treatment. However, the design may be made permanent and the appearance greatly enhanced by securing a backing sheet to the back face of the formed fabric. For this purpose, the forming boards 18 are removed from the screen without disturbing the formed fabric. Then, a suitable adhesive substance is applied to the back of the fab-ric by means of an ordinary roller 29 which may be of the fountain type. By running the roller over the fabric, as shown in Fig.7, the adhesive is applied only in spots to the fabric so that the glue or .paste will not penetrate-the fabric over wide areas and produce an unsightly appearance on the front face and so the backing will not become stiff or crinkly. This mode of application also eifects a great saving of adhesiv substance.

While the adhesive is stillin the liquid or plastic state, or before it is dry, a backing sheet 30 is laid on the formed fabric and the boards are turned upside down so as to press the backing sheet against the glue spots and makeit stick. In some instances, ahot flat iron is run over the backing to make it stick better. As soon as the glue or adhesive. dries somewhat, the whole sheet of formed fabric is removed from the screen ready to be packed for shipping or for use. Since the backing is secured to the formed fabric at a number of spots, the design cannot easily be destroyed as the formed fabric cannot be stretched. V

'acterized by placing a plain sheet of fabric'i Moreover, the upstanding projections will automatically return to their proper positions after slight crushing pressure is applied to them. Hence, the formed material will withstand considerable abuse. If white silk is used, the backing may be of the same color and will impart to the lining a greater luster than is possible where no lining is employed.

The preferred method of practicing the invention has been described in connection with the apparatus. In fact,- the machine is so designed as to facilitate the practice of the method. The various steps of the method involve the placing of a plain sheet of fabric to be formed on a forming screen; producing the design by means of a series of cooperating forming boards; moistening the formed fabric and drying it by the application of'heat; and securing a backing to the formed sheet before it is removed from the forming screen;-

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they? may be employed advantageously, in various combinations and sub-combinations.

What is claimed is:

1. That method of forming decorative fabric, which is characterized by placing a plainii9 sheet of fabric on a screen; producing a design on the fabric; moistening the formed fabric and applying heat thereto; and securing a backing to the formed fabric before it is removed from the screen.

2. That method of forming decorative fabric of the character described, which is characterized by placing a plain sheet of fabric on a screen; pressing the fabric through the meshes of the screen; and moistening anddrying the fabric while it remains in the screen to set the design therein.

3. That method of forming decorative fabrics of the character described, which is charno on a wire screen; forcing the fabric through the meshes of the screen; moistening the fabric while it remains in the screen; applying heat to the fabric to set the design therein; and adhesively securing a fabric backing to the formed fabric while it remains in the screen.

4. A fabric forming machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a horizontal screen mounted on the frame; and a forming board having a series of projections adapted to force thefabric through the meshes of the screen.

5. A fabric forming machine comprising, in combination, a supporting frame; a pol-- ished wire screen mounted on the frame; and a series of forming boards having projections adapted to force the fabric through the meshes of the screen to produce ornamental design, therein.

6. A fabric forming machine of the chem acter described, comprising a table frame; a former frame mounted on the table frame; a Wire screen secured to the former frame and having meshes shaped to produce an ornamental design in the fabric; boards having rounded projections adapted to force the fabric through the meshes of the screen; and clamping members to clamp the boards on the screen.

7. A fabric forming machine comprising, in combination, a supporting frame; a forming frame rotatably mounted on said supporting frame; a Wire screen on said forming frame; a board having a series of projections adapted to force the fabric through the meshes of said screen; means to clamp the board on said screen; and an adjustable heating device below the forming frame adapted to be raised to apply heat to the formed fabric after it has been moistened.

8. A fabric forming machine of the class described, comprising a Wire screen mounted to be turned upside down; forming boards having a series of round headed nails adapted to force the fabric through the meshes of the screen; clamping means to hold the boards on the screen When it is turned upside down; an electric heating element below the screen; and means to raise and lower the heating element with respect to said screen.

9. I11 a fabric forming machine of the character described, a polished Wire screen hav ing meshes so shaped as to produce an ornamental design in the fabric; and means to force the fabric through the meshes of the screen.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature.

THOMAS BRADLEY BETTERTON. 

